Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Condemns Fifth Circuit Court Decision to Temporarily Block Expansion of Vote-by-Mail in Texas

Houston, TX – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement:

"On the heels of a House Judiciary Committee hearing on protecting the right to vote during COVID-19, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a stay on a federal court's decision that allowed for the expansion of vote-by-mail in Texas. I strongly disagree with this misguided decision, which will force Texas voters to choose between their health and voting.

We are living through an unprecedented pandemic and Texans are still reeling from this health and economic crisis. Republicans, from President Trump to Attorney General Ken Paxton, are trying to use this pandemic for political gain.

The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. In the middle of this life-threatening pandemic, we should be working to keep people safe and give voters the peace of mind that they can safely exercise their right to vote. We cannot stand for any actions that would purposefully limit the right to vote of any eligible voter, and unfortunately this is exactly what Republican officials are attempting to do.

I fully expect this case will work its way up to the United States Supreme Court, and I truly hope the Court will put people over politics for the safety of America and the future of our democracy."

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.